As storm hits, plow drivers ready for long day

DAVE GERSHMAN | THE ANN ARBOR NEWSTim Fehrle, a 10-year veteran of the Washtenaw County Road Commission, plows Jackson Avenue this morning. Fehrle started out around 4 a.m. and expected to work throughout the day, as long as the snow kept falling.

"I don't know if they want to challenge you, or push you over. They always tell you not to make eye contact."- Washtenaw County Road Commission worker Tim Fehrle, on motorists who vie with his 14-ton truck and plow.

By DAVE GERSHMANThe Ann Arbor News

Morning came early for Tim Fehrle.

With heavy snow already falling at 4 a.m. today, Fehrle climbed into his truck at the Washtenaw County Road Commission's garage on Zeeb Road, and headed out to plow a stretch of Jackson Avenue.

Fehrle and the drivers of the Road Commission's other 45 trucks would try their best to get a jump on a storm expected to dump up to 7 inches in the area on Friday, and do as much plowing before the morning rush snarls their progress.

"I'm afraid this is going to be a long day," he said while turning around on Jackson Avenue to see that the lane he cleared less than half an hour ago was once again completely covered in snow.

Operating a 14-ton truck with a belly blade that cuts a 9 foot swath through the snow is an exercise in keeping a level head. Fehrle is fatalistic. He can't control the weather, and he can't control the actions of other drivers on the roads.

While traffic was light this morning, possibly because area schools had given students the day off, some mornings aren't always so relaxed. Most drivers recognize the plows are trying to clear their way to work, but some try to swerve around the plows.

"I don't know if they want to challenge you, or push you over," he said. "They always tell you not to make eye contact."

Every year, a few inattentive drivers slam into the rear of the plow trucks.

Fehrle steered his plow between the Ann Arbor city line and Parker Road, paying special attention to busy intersections, making laps around them to scrape the road down to the pavement. Then he plowed some of the many U-turns on Jackson Avenue, his eyes darting around to keep watch on the traffic, and avoid having his blade scrape the curb.

As a 10-year veteran of the Road Commission, working heavy machinery on the road maintenance unit, Fehrle, 49, knows his way around Jackson Avenue. His father is a retired pressman at The Ann Arbor News. While big storms can mean overtime for the plowmen, Fehrle confesses that he has never been a fan of winter.

And yes, he says, he does feel bad plowing snow onto residents' driveways, and confessed to helping elderly residents if he sees them in a bind - though he can't help everybody.

Road Commission spokeswoman Val Cooper said Thursday that before the storm hit, all of the trucks would be topped off with fuel and filled with salt, so they would be ready to go. The Road Commission planned to send its night crew of about a half dozen plow drivers out early on Friday, and then the full complement of staff would arrive at 4 a.m. Main roads are plowed first.

By 7:45 a.m., snow totals in the area ranged from 4 inches in Manchester to 3 inches in Ann Arbor, said Cory Behnke, a meteorology with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township. He said the forecast called for 4 to 7 inches of snow by Friday evening.

If the forecast holds true, Cooper said, "They'll be out from 4 a.m. until about 8 p.m. (Friday) night, and then up again as early as 5 a.m. Saturday and have another full day."

That means another long day for the plow drivers like Fehrle.

"We'll sleep on Sunday, I guess," he said.

Reporter Dave Gershman can be reached at 734-994-6818 or dgershman@annarbornews.com.